[Updated on 18th December 07]
Here's the .PPS version of the WAK materials presentation . WAK consultants Pte Ltd will be sponsoring all teams materials for constructing canoe. The materials available from WAK are listed in this powerpoint, as downloadable above. It was presented on 14th December 2008 (Friday) by Mr. Tony Yap, Technical Advisor for High Performance Concrete of WAK in NTU.
Please download and submit the list of materials you need for testing and constructing of canoe to Lit Yung (z050004@ntu.edu.sg). SNCCC commitee will help every team in sourcing for suppliers in bulk, as much as we can help. Before passing the 31st December qualifying round, each team will have to bear the cost of materials purchased.
Here's the PDF version of the Introductory talk, the Powerpoint slides of Concrete Canoe workshop by Prof. Huang and Prof. Susanto. the mix proportion table guidelines, the rules and regulations and contacts of professors and technicians. Again, we sincerely appreciate your support.
Introduction of Concrete Canoe
In spirit, the
event is similar to that of a cardboard boat race—make the seemingly
unfloatable float. However, since concrete and other
poured surfaces are an integral part of a
civil engineer's education, concrete canoes
typically feature more development than cardboard boats.
Most ships or boats float because the weight of the water
they displace is greater than the weight of the boat
(Archimedes' principle). Concrete canoes, however, are
actually lighter than water, as required by the rules of
the competition. They must pass a test in which the canoe
is filled with water and pushed below the surface; the
canoe must then resurface in order to qualify for racing.
This is possible because, unlike normal concrete which uses
sand and small rocks, concrete canoes are created with
hollow aggregates such as Macrolite and microspheres.
However, because many teams still design their concrete
mixes to be more dense than water, in the United States,
teams are allowed to insert concrete-covered,
non-structural foam pieces in their canoes to make the
canoes float after being submerged.
In the U.S., around 200 universities participate in the
event every year in 18 regional competitions. The winners
of these competitions and up to five second place finishers
move on to the national competition, which is called the
"olympics of civil engineering."
Concrete canoe teams must design their canoes from scratch.
Typically they create the shape of the hull with a computer
design program specifically made for yachts, canoes, and
other watercraft. The shape is optimized for racing. This
hull shape is then given to a construction team,
responsible for making a mold for the canoe to be formed
on. A special concrete mix is designed over several months,
emphasizing among other qualities, an optimal balance
between strength and low density. The finalized mix design
is placed on the form; the hull thickness usually ranges
from about 3/8" to 3/4". Teams later spend hundreds of
hours sanding and applying exterior graphics to their
canoes for a nice finish. Scoring in the competition is
based on the quality of construction, race performance, a
design paper, and a business presentation.
Organized by NTU Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Club:
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